Gomers -- What's going wrong

ENOUGH ALREADY: A temporary federal government program aimed at helping small farmers survive during tough times has lost its way. About $5 billion a year goes to many landowners who don't live on the land, farm it or have any crops are growing on it - regardless if times are good or bad. About 2,300 farms getting payments haven't grown crops for at least five years. These subsidies were supposed to end in 2003. Not. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, among farmers who also have received direct payments, is among those supporting an end to them. By the way, 62 percent of Iowa farmland was owned by non-farmers in 2012, up from 55 percent in 2002, continuing the absentee trend's upward spiral.

STILL WET: Among the lingering negative effects of early June flooding and record-wet spring in Eastern Iowa is slowly receding water in Iowa City's popular Lower City Park. The park, which includes several ball fields and Riverside Theatre, hopefully will be available for use by July 1. Meanwhile, many Iowa farmers are struggling to catch up the soybean planting before that date, after which the crop is at risk of having enough time to mature.